HIGH SCHOOL

At IC’s High School, students embark on a transformative journey that prepares them for college and life beyond.

Our rigorous academic programs, including the Lebanese Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, American High School Program, and the French Baccalaureate Program, empower students to think critically, embrace diversity, and engage with the world as confident, ethical leaders.

Beyond academics, students thrive through a rich array of co-curricular opportunities, from athletics and performing arts to student-led clubs, leadership programs, and civic engagement and service learning initiatives, nurturing their talents and broadening their horizons. This is also where students have the chance to join the Ali Ghandour Center for Leadership, Diversity, and Civic Engagement, where they deepen their understanding of themselves and the world, and develop as proactive citizens ready to make a meaningful difference.

HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS

LEBANESE BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM

The Lebanese Baccalaureate Program, following the curriculum of the Lebanese Ministry of Education, is available to all students in the English track for core subjects including math and sciences. French is taught as a third language. Social studies, history, geography, civics, sociology and economics are taught in Arabic with the study of Arabic literature and language mandatory. In the second year (Grade 11), students choose a focus on either humanities or the sciences, and then specialize in their third and final year. Students are assessed by the comprehensive exams set by the Lebanese Ministry of Education at the completion of Grade 12.

Malda Halawi Dirani

Title: Assistant Principal, Head of the Lebanese Program - High School

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FRENCH BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM

The French Baccalaureate Program begins preparing students as early as Grade 10. At this stage, in addition to the core subjects outlined in the official French National Education Bulletin (BO), students receive personalized academic support and career guidance. They follow a set of common courses and must select three specialty subjects, which are later narrowed down to two in Terminale (Grade 12). In their final year, students sit for four major exams, along with the written and oral French exam taken in 1ère (Grade 11). Two of the final exams focus on the student’s chosen specialties. In June of Terminale, students also take a philosophy exam and a comprehensive oral examination.

Assessment for the Baccalaureate is divided between final exams and continuous evaluation. The four final written exams and the oral exam account for 60% of the final grade. The remaining 40% comes from ongoing assessment: 30% from continuous coursework and 10% from school report card grades in 1ère and Terminale.

In addition to the required subjects and chosen specialties, students may also select various optional courses, including those in the arts.

IC also offers the International French Baccalaureate Program (BFI) as part of and in addition to the French Baccalaureate program. The BFI provides students with an international dimension alongside the traditional French curriculum, preparing them for higher education in both French and global contexts. Students in Première (Grade 11) who enroll in this program prepare this new international option over the two years of the final cycle, with the option being officially recognized in the Baccalaureate exams.

Le Baccalauréat français prépare les élèves dès la classe de Seconde. À ce niveau, en plus des disciplines prévues dans le Bulletin officiel de l’Éducation nationale, les élèves bénéficient d’un accompagnement personnalisé ainsi que de séances d’information sur l’orientation. Ils suivent un tronc commun et doivent choisir trois enseignements de spécialité, qui seront réduits à deux en classe de Terminale.

En Terminale, les élèves passent quatre épreuves finales, auxquelles s’ajoutent les épreuves anticipées de français (écrit et oral) en classe de Première. Deux des épreuves finales portent sur les spécialités choisies. En juin de Terminale, les élèves passent également une épreuve de philosophie ainsi qu’un grand oral.

L’évaluation du Baccalauréat repose à la fois sur les épreuves terminales et sur le contrôle continu. Les quatre épreuves écrites finales et le grand oral représentent 60 % de la note finale. Les 40 % restants proviennent du contrôle continu : 30 % issus des évaluations régulières et 10 % des bulletins scolaires de Première et de Terminale.

En plus des matières obligatoires et des spécialités, les élèves peuvent choisir plusieurs options, y compris des options artistiques.

IC propose également le Baccalauréat Français International (BFI), qui s’inscrit dans le cadre du Baccalauréat français et vient s’y ajouter. Le BFI offre aux élèves une dimension internationale, en complément du programme français traditionnel, et les prépare à poursuivre des études supérieures en France comme à l’international. Les élèves de Première qui choisissent ce dispositif préparent cette nouvelle option internationale tout au long des deux années du cycle terminal, l’option étant officiellement prise en compte lors des examens du Baccalauréat.

Boualem Maizia

Title: Director, Curriculum and Instruction, French Program, Head of French Baccalaureate Program

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INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA PROGRAM

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is a demanding two-year curriculum with a rigorous assessment component. The program is made up of six subject groups and three core elements: Theory of knowledge, the extended essay and creativity, activity and service. Students admitted to the IB Diploma Program with a non-Lebanese nationality must obtain permission from the Ministry of Education. As for students holding only the Lebanese nationality, the government has set certain conditions in order to get the equivalency of the IB Diploma and the Lebanese Baccalaureate. A good knowledge of English is a prerequisite, as it is the language of instruction. The IB Diploma is recognized by leading universities around the world. The program aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, reflective and caring young people who are motivated to succeed.

To be eligible for the award of the Diploma, all candidates must have:

Completed the exams or coursework in six subjects
Submitted and achieved a passing grade in the Extended Essay
Achieved a passing grade in TOK (Theory of Knowledge)
Fulfilled the CAS requirements (Creativity Action, Service)

Sevag Atamian

Title: Assistant Principal, International Baccalaureate Diploma Program Coordinator

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AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM

The American High School Program (AMER) is a three-year curriculum designed to prepare students for the Freshman year at university. The language of instruction is English. Students admitted into this program must hold a foreign passport and secure permission from the Ministry of Education. Courses taken are extensive and rigorous such as math, biology, economics, business, global issues, history, geography, English literature, Arabic and French languages, drama, elective (art, music, Spanish, health/wellbeing) and physical education. In 2020, IC began to align the Massachusetts State standards for all the classes and redistributed them to every subject to accommodate IC’s needs, essentially providing teachers and students with clear expectations for what all students should know and be able to do by the end of the year.